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Legitimizing a child's birth formally in the United States can be done at any time during his or her life, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the timing of that event. |
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The filing of a legitimization action often is the result of a series of events that impel a father to recognize his child, as in the example. In another case, an elderly father nearing the end of life decided to admit his paternity so that his son would be recognized as the only legal heir to a large estate. |
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Legitimization entries are filed with a local civil court, sometimes called the county court, probate court, orphan's court, circuit court, or chancery court. |
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Most legitimzation records have remained in the custody of the civil court in which they were created and can be obtained form the court clerk. |
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Genealogists have abstracted and indexed courtr records for many locations. Copies of those publications and thousands of microfilmed court minute and order books can be found at the LDS Family History Library, its local Family History Centers, and in the genealogy collections of private, local, state, and university libraries throughout the country. |
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